LSU's Leonard Fournette arrives before the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
(Julio Cortez)

LSU's Leonard Fournette arrives before the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
(Julio Cortez)

(SEAN SIMMERS)

Leonard Fournette was the fourth player picked in the NFL Draft Thursday. (AP photo by Matt Rourke)

LSU's Leonard Fournette, left, waves as he poses with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/The Associated Press)

LSU's Leonard Fournette, left, greets NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first round of the 2017 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
(Matt Rourke)

Leonard Fournette meets with the Jacksonville media
(AP file photo)

Leonard Fournette is the seventh LSU running back picked in the NFL Draft since 2010.
(AP photo by Bob Self)

The Jacksonville Jaguars couldn't have found a better player than
Leonard Fournette
at a time of transition, ESPN draft analysts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. concurred.

The Jaguars drafted Fournette No. 4 overall with that in mind. A new coach (Doug Marrone) and old familiar face calling the draft shots (former Jag coach Tom Coughlin).

"I don't think there's a player in this draft that could help you transition to focusing on defense, slowing down the game on offense, limiting mistakes and not forcing the defense to be on the field too often. . . there's not (a pick) that had that value and can provide that more than Leonard Fournette," McShay said during a Sunday teleconference.

"I love the pick because it has Tom Coughlin written all over it. Philosophically what Jacksonville will transition (to) is play to their strength and their strength is defense. They've got this young, talented defense that was playing at a playoff level in the second half of last season."

Said Kiper: "I'm not an advocate of taking running backs in the first round, but Fournette fits that bill for Tom Couglin, a signature piece like (former Jaguar RB) Fred Taylor early on."

The Jaguars used their first five picks in 2016 on defensive players and it paid off. Jacksonville finished with the NFL's No. 6 defense, allowing 321.7 yards per game.

But Jacksonville allowed 400 points, only seven teams allowed more, and blew four fourth-quarter leads in going 2-14. The third blown lead at Houston cost coach Gus Bradley his job right after the game.

Coughlin coached Jacksonville from 1995-2002 and later won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants. He was brought in as executive vice president for player personnel and immediately put his defensive-oriented stamp on the draft with Fournette, whose power running is expected to shorten games in the fourth quarter and keep the Jags defense on the sideline.

The Jaguars went further toward a more physical style with Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson, whom McShay and Kiper both called "a mauler" for his run blocking expertise.

Later in the draft, the Jaguars added speedy Oklahoma wide receiver Dede Westbrook to goose the offense more and 260-pound Miami fullback Marquez Williams, suggesting power running from the I formation is going to become common.

"We brought him here for a visit and he's a great kid," Jacksonville general manager Dave Caldwell said. "He's a bowling ball and the theme of our day is physicality and he has a new running back [Leonard Fournette] to block for."

As if to double down on trying to turn the franchise fortunes around, the team picked up the fifth-year option on quarterback Blake Bortles Monday. Bortles has passed for 11,241 yards and 69 TDs in his first three seasons, but has thrown 51 interceptions.

McShay suggested fewer pass attempts could be addition by subtraction for the Jags.

"If (Fournette) gets 20, 20-plus carry games where he can get going and start wearing down the opponent. . . when you look at Tom Coughlin and his influence in this draft, it started there at No. 4. I really like that decision."